Pile driver



Sept. 11, 1962 w. R. FAIRCHILD PILE DRIVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1960 INVENTOR WILLIAM R FAlRCHlLD BYQW ATTO R N EY Se t. 11, 1962 w. R. FAIRCHILD 3,053,329

PILE DRIVER Filed Feb. 8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM R. FAIRCHILD BYW E i;

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,053,329 PILE DRIVER William R. Fairchild, Box 31, Hattiesburg, Miss. Filed Feb. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 7,161 4 Claims. 01. 175-151) This invention relates to steam-air hammers. More specifically, it relates to a novel modification of steam-air hammer apparatus which permits use of the exhaust gases from the hammer for cleaning and lubricating the hammer leads mounted on conventional A frames used on pile driving equipment.

Hereafter throughout the specification and claims, reference will be made to steam hammer, but in using the term steam hammer it is understood that the term shall include air as Well as any other pneumatic medium used in operating hammers.

It is well known that in driving pile, the work is generally done in the presence of mud, dirt, powdered stone and like materials. Such damaging materials usually accumulate on the pile driving mechanism, and when such damaging materials are deposited between the moving machine parts, the abrasive action of the materials is detrimental to the equipment.

A particular point on the pile driving equipment where such abrasive materials accumulate is on the pile driver leads, and when the guides mounted on the sides of the hammer move over the pile driver leads, abrasive cutting action occurs. This impairs the efficiency of the operation, and it is detrimental to the equipment.

Heretofore exhaust steam of the conventional steam hammer was vented into the atmosphere and no benefits of the heat, lubricating value and cleaning value of the steam were obtained. Through the present invention, the exhaust steam of the steam hammer is so directed and utilized that improved efliciency of the machine is obtained, and the machine parts are cleaned and lubricated.

It is an object of this invention to improve the operating efficiency of pile driving equipment by utilizing exhaust gases from the steam hammer to clean and lubricate the hammer leads on the equipment frame. Another object of this invention is to modify and position the exhaust ports of the steam hammer so that the function of cleaning and lubricating the leads may be accomplished. Other objects and benefits of the present development will be apparent to those using the invention described and claimed herein.

Broadly stated, the invention comprises locating the exhaust ports of the steam hammer in alignment With an opening in the hammer guides, and thus the exhaust steam will strike the face of the hammer leads. Through this action the hammer leads will be kept free of damaging gritty material at all times and, in addition, the contact areas between the steam hammer guides and the A frame leads will be constantly lubricated.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation of a steam hammer,

FIGURE 2 shows a front view of a steam hammer, and also shows a part section view on line 22 of FIG- URE l, and

FIGURE 3 shows an enlarged top view of a steam hammer on line 33, and the relationship of the hammer guides and the leads.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying draw- Patented Sept. 11, 1962 "ice 2 ing and the reference numerals in describing and defining the invention, the steamhammer comprises a ram 10 which is positioned at the end of piston rod 12. At the opposite end of piston rod 12, a piston 14 is mounted which moves within cylinder 16 as steam enters the cylinder from steam chest '18 through the intake passageway 20. The steam flowing into the cylinder is controlled by rotary valve 21.

Ram 10 is slidably mounted on four columns 22, the columns passing through the body of the ram with the columns positioned adjacent to the corners of the ram 10. The columns extend from base 24 of the structure and through the base 26 of the cylinder as shown in FIGURES l and 2. A cylinder cap or boss 28 is at the top of cylinder 16. Exhaust ports or openings 30 at opposite sides of the cylinder 16 are so positioned to be in alignment with openings 31 of the hammer guides 32. Hammer guides 32 are channel shaped members and are fastened to the sides of the steam hammer, and are adapted to slide over the face of hammer leads 34 mounted on a U-shaped member 36 which is mounted on a conventional A frame. A conventional A frame structure is shown in my previous Patent No. 2,743,586. It is important to note that exhaust port openings 30 of the steam cylinder are in alignment with the openings 31 of the hammer guides 32.

In operation, steam is fed to the cylinder 16 through intake port opening 20. When the piston reaches the upper limit of the stroke, the steam passes through exhaust ports 30 in the cylinder walls, through the openings 31 of the hammer guides 32, and then strikes the face of hammer leads 34. As the hot steam strikes the hammer leads 34, any dirt or foreign material which may be on the leads will be blown off through the exhaust steam pressure and the leads will be lubricated by the moisture in the steam.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that applicants novel arrangement accomplishes an important function in pile driving apparatus. The apparatus may be modified to some degree and still accomplish the cleaning function accomplished herein. Such modifications are intended to be included within the present invention, when the modification falls within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In pile driving apparatus including a frame having a pair of hammer leads, a movable steam hammer including a steam cylinder positioned between said leads, exhaust ports in the walls of the steam cylinder to exhaust steam from the cylinder, said exhaust ports positioned to be in alignment with the hammer leads to direct exhaust steam from the cylinder exhaust ports to contact the hammer leads.

2. In pile driving apparatus which comprises a frame having a pair of hammer leads, a movable steam hammer including a steam cylinder positioned between said leads, a pair of exhaust ports in the walls of the steam cylinder, hammer guides secured to opposite sides of the steam hammer and positioned to movably contact the surfaces of the hammer leads, each hammer guide having an opening therethrough and aligned with one of the exhaust ports of the steam cylinder to direct exhaust steam from the cylinder exhaust ports to contact the hammer leads.

O 3. In pile driving apparatus which comprises a frame having a pair of hammer leads, a movable steam hammer including a steam cylinder positioned between the leads, a pair of exhaust ports on opposite sides of the steam .cylinder, channel shaped hammer guides secured to opposite sides of the hammer and positioned to movably contact the surfaces of the hammer leads, and an opening through the face of each hammer guide positioned to be in alignment with an exhaust port of the steam hammer cylinder to direct exhaust steam from the cylinder exhaust ports to contact the hammer leads.

4. In pile driving apparatus including a frame having a pair of hammer leads, a movable steam hammer positioned between the leads, said steam hammer comprising a cylinder, a reciprocating piston within the cylinder, a pair of exhaust ports on opposite sides of the cylinder, hammer guides secured to opposite sides of the steam hammer and positioned to move over the surface of the hammer leads, each hammer guide having an opening therethrough positioned to be in alignment with one of the exhaust ports of the cylinder, thereby permitting flow of exhaust steam from the cylinder exhaust ports, through the openings in the hammer guide and to contact the hammer leads.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,787,123 Delvaux Apr. 2, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES A.P.C., application of Pfeiffer, Ser. No. 357,993, published April 27, 1943. 

